Bottle carrier



i Dec. 2, 1941. I c. H. KRUEA 5 3 I BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Sept. '1, 1938 Clzarlesfljfru ea ATTORNEYS. I

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 norm canama Charles H. Kruea, Fort Thomas, Ky., assignor, by direct and mesne assignmentaot one-sixth to Robert L. Black, one-sixth to E. Webster Harrisen, and one-sixth to Robert B. Harrison, all

of Cincinnati, Ohio Application September 1, 1938, Serial No. 227,999

2 llaims. (Cl. 224-45) The present invention relates to a bottle holder and has for an object the provision of a simple, one-piece holder or support means in which a bottle is normally suspended vertically from the bulbous part 01' the bottle neck and is positively held against accidental separation therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character'which requires manual tilting of the bottle to an angle of the order of 70 or more from its normal upright position in order to enter the bottle into or remove the bottle from the holder when the latter is in a substantially horizontal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder of the class described that is adapted to be inexpensively formed of rigid sheet material and which may be arranged in a wide variety of forms for use as a fixed support or as a portable carrier.

Astill further object of the invention is to Fig. l is a perspective view of a simple form of'multiple bottle carrier embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view showing a slightly modifled form of carrier of the invention in an unto the disadvantage of requiring some auxiliary 7 means to retain the bottle against accidental separation during movement of the'holder.

In the device of the present invention the requirement for auxiliary means is eliminated and a less expensive and more effective device results therefrom.

broken away.

. Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elev ational view.-

showing the bottle holder of Fig. 2 with a bottle therein, and showing in dotted lines the angular position of the bottle for entering or removing the latter from the holder.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a development of the holder of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental side elevational view of another modified form of the holder of the invention with a bottle seated therein and showing in dotted lines the position required for entering and removal of the bottle.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a development of the holder of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental perspective view of a holder of the invention adaptedfor wall mountcarrier of wire or strip metal for a bottle or jug inoperative engagement about the neck of such a container.

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view oi the device of Fig. 8 with the container removed.

It is known in the art to provide bottle holders wherein the bottle is suspended from the neck, but the prior art devices have been open Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a single j Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows .a carrier adapted to hold a plurality of beverage bottles of the types used for soft drinks, carbonated water, beer, and other popular beverages. The bottles mentioned have a common characteristic in that a bulbous portion I0 is provided closely adjacent the mouth. Immediately below the bulbous portion these bottles all have a restriction l I of an exterior diameter of approximately one inch. Below restriction H the bottle necks assume various tapered shapes.

In providing for the reception and positive retention of this large class of beverage bottles, the present invention preferably employs a sheet metal body it which is cut inwardly from the edge thereof to form a way l3 having parallelbounding edges H which are joined by a semi-- circular edge l5 havinga radius large enough to receive the restricted heck portion H with very slight clearance. The parallel bounding edges i l will thus pass the restricted portion H of the bottle between them but no appreciable part of the bulbous enlargement ill above the restriction II can be passed between these parallel edges. The essence of the present invention resides in providing the semi-circular arcuate edge IE, or its equivalent, to embrace substantially one-half of the restriction ll of a bottle and to continue the parallel edges l4 outwardly for a distance less than the radius'of the restriction H beyond the center of the bottle neck and to then turn said parallel edges upwardly or upwardly and inwardly so as to provide one or more points along said edges It to contact the bulbous portion Ill. Since these upwardly turned portions l0, where saidpoints may pass upwardly to embrace the portion l0. Assuming the body l2 to be in a horizontal position, the bottle is suspended by the bulbous portion thereof resting over the arcuate edge l5 and on some point on the parallel edges M. The bottle cannot be moved outwardly norupwardly nor inwardly because of binding on opposed portions of the parplane of the restriction H, the bulbous portion I is entirely free of binding upon any part of the holder. The bottle may then be lifted away from the holder.

Since this angle of tilting is" required to be of the order of 70 or more from a perpendicular to the body I2, it is impossible to accidentally dislodge a bottle completely from the holder. The suspended bottle can not shift horizontally in any direction and can be tilted in only one direction, hence such bottles cannot strike adjacent bottles or any other adjacent object. In the form shown in Fig. l the metal is turned upwardly at right angles so that the upturned parallel edges will have a single pair of contact points on the bulbous portion ill of a bottle. The points of contact shift as the carrier is progressively tilted. A

In the form shown in Fig. 5 additional metal is provided on the ends of prongs i6 and this metal is turned back inwardly when the prongs are turned up as in the device of Fig. 1. In the forms shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the tongues iii of the metal bounding the way l3 are turned arcuately upwardly and inwardly (see Fig. 3). Slightly beyond the radial center of the curved edge wall I5, beginning at points lying in the dotted line I! as shown in the developed form of Fig. 4, the parallel edges, curve upwardly and inwardly to terminate at a point which will lie above the plane of the largest diameter of bulbous portion l0 and outwardly beyond the axis of said bulbous portion and bottle neck. The curved parallel edges ll of the curved arms l8 are too close together to permit the bulbous portion ID of the bottle neck to be entered between them. When the axis of the bottle is turned up to a suitable angle the bulbous-portion of the bottle may rest partially at least against the arcuate wall l5 and the curved tongues I 6 terminate on the opposite side of the bulbous portion in as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

For single or multiple holders adapted for wall mounting the sheet metal of the device has suitable fianges l9 formed thereon for strength and one or more screw receiving lugs 20 to enable ready mounting on a wall surface 2|.

In providing a carrier for a single bottle or jug stifl. wire stock or strip metal is preferred. The strip or wire is bent intermediate its ends to form an arcuate seat portion 22 and the ends continued from said bent portion as a pair of short parallel edges 23 and then turned upwardly as parallel edges 24. The seat and parallel edges thus formed correspond in form substantially to tion as desired. Bails 21 connected to a suitable handle 28 provide an arrangement that can be folded flatly upon body l2 at any time. This enables the use of this type of carrier by dis tributor, dealer and consumer. The bottles remain securely seated in the carrier regardless 'of whether the latter is uniformly or non-uniformly filled with bottles. When such carrier having one or more bottles is placed on a table surface the bottles rest on their own bottoms and the carrier is supported by the bottles without danger of releasing any of the bottles when the carrier is again picked up. When suspended by its handle the carrier assumes a horizontal position or an inclined position depending on the number and disposition of the bottles therein. The. angle at which the bottles must be tilted before lifting them from the suspending seats is such as to render it impossible to accidentally release a bottle without the prescribed degree of tilting and lifting. In all of the embodiments illustrated and in contemplated modifications thereof within the scope of the invention the essential features are the provision of normally horizontal parallel edges, shorter than a radius of restriction ll. of the bottle neck with a connecting edge in a plane therewith to contact the restriction ll below the enlargement in and position the ends of the parallel edges on opposite,

ends of a diameter of the bottle neck and lipturned parallel edges forming a continuation of the said horizontal edges'to contact the circumference of the enlargement l0. Such an arrangement will accommodate bottles having enlargements in of various different contours.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for carrying a bottle having a bulbous portion comprising, a support member providing a slot of suflicient width to admit the neck portion of the bottle below the bulbous portion, upturned portions extending upwardly from either side of said slot and engaging the bulbous portion forwardly of the center of the bottle and inwardly of the width of the bulbous portion when the back portion of the neck of the bottle engages the inner end of said slot, said slot being of a depth in relation to the upturned portions for causing a wedging action to occur on the bottle between the inner end of the slot and the upturned. portions engaging the bulbous portion of the bottle when the body of the bottle tends to swing inwardly of the slot.

.2. A multiple carrier for beverage bottles comprising a rigid sheet metal body having bottle neck receiving slots in the edges thereof, each slot being of suflicient width to admit the neck portion of the bottle below the bulbous portion, upturned portions extending upwardly from either side of the particular slot and engaging the bulbous portion forwardly of the center of the bottie and inwardly of the width of the bulbous portion when the back portion of the neck of the bottle engages the inner end of said slot, said slot being of a depth in relation to the upturned portions for causing a wedging action to occur on the bottle between the inner end of the slot and the upturned portions engaging the bulbous portion of the bottle when the body of the bottle tends to swing inwardly of the slot.

CHARLES H. KRUEA. 

